The Guardian stood motionless, its crimson eyes locked onto Kaito.
For a heartbeat, nobody moved.
Then the headquarters shook violently.
A deafening explosion tore through the eastern wing, sending steel beams crashing into the laboratory. Smoke swallowed the room, and the ceiling collapsed between Kaito, Mara, and the Guardian.
"Run!" Kaito shouted.
Without hesitation, they sprinted through the smoke-filled corridor. Emergency lights flashed red while warning sirens echoed throughout the building.
"Self-Destruct sequence initiated."
"Three minutes until structural collapse."
Kaito forced open a maintenance hatch hidden behind a broken control panel.
"This way!"
The narrow tunnel was dark and filled with dust. They crawled through rusted pipes and abandoned service passages as explosions continued above them. Every blast made the walls tremble.
Finally, a rusted emergency door appeared.
Kaito pushed it open with all his strength.
Fresh morning air rushed inside.
Behind them, the Silent Strike Command Tower disappeared beneath a giant fireball that lit the cloudy sky.
Neither of them spoke.
They simply watched.
The place they had once called home no longer existed.
Hours later...
Neo-Tokyo was slowly waking up.
Morning sunlight reflected from endless glass towers while colorful holographic advertisements floated across the skyline. Office workers hurried toward metro stations with cups of coffee in their hands. School children laughed as tiny drone buses carried them through the streets.
The city felt alive.
"So this is what people call a normal morning," Mara said with a smile.
Kaito looked around quietly.
"I've spent so many years chasing missions..."
"I forgot people actually lived here."
The smell of fresh bread drifted through the air.
A tiny bakery stood on the corner of the street.
Mara stopped walking.
"I'm starving."
Kaito smiled faintly.
"For once... I agree."
The bakery was warm and peaceful.
Fresh croissants, sandwiches, sweet rolls and fruit tarts filled the shelves.
An elderly woman greeted them.
"Good morning. What can I get for you?"
"Two teas," Kaito replied.
"And whatever she wants."
Mara laughed.
"I'll take that as permission."
Soon their table was filled with hot tea, butter croissants, vegetable sandwiches and fresh fruit.
For several minutes...
Neither of them spoke.
They simply enjoyed eating.
It was the first peaceful meal either of them had shared in years.
After breakfast they wandered through the Old Market District.
Street musicians played gentle melodies while artists painted colorful digital murals that moved like living pictures.
Flower shops lined the sidewalks.
Bookstores displayed novels beside antique watches and handmade crafts.
Children chased robotic pigeons across the square while elderly couples fed real birds beside a fountain.
"This city is beautiful," Mara whispered.
"It always was," Kaito replied.
"I just never stopped long enough to notice."
By afternoon they reached the famous Skywalk Market.
Food stalls stretched for blocks.
The air smelled of ramen, grilled seafood, fried rice, roasted corn and sweet desserts.
Mara's eyes sparkled.
"I think this is my favorite place already."
They shared a large bowl of ramen before trying grilled dumplings and fruit juice from a nearby vendor.
For the first time...
Kaito laughed.
Not because of victory.
Not because of survival.
Just because he was happy.
As evening arrived, they walked beside the river where cherry blossom petals floated across the water.
The city lights slowly came alive, turning the river into a sea of shimmering colors.
They bought warm milk tea from a small riverside café and sat quietly, watching the skyline.
"I wish days like this lasted forever," Mara said.
Kaito looked toward the glowing city.
"So do I."
At that moment...
Every giant holographic screen around the river suddenly changed.
BREAKING NEWS
Images of the burning Silent Strike headquarters filled the displays.
Then two photographs appeared.
AGENT K-07 — KAITO
MARA
WANTED FOR TERRORISM
The crowds fell silent.
Kaito slowly lowered his cup.
Their peaceful day...
Had just come to an end.
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